Mt. Pulaski 8-2A relishes another state title

Wednesday

The Mount Pulaski 8th grade volleyball team is accustomed to the big stage.

The Honeybears claimed the IESA 8-2A championship with a 25-18 and 25-14 victory against Augusta Southeastern in Auburn Tuesday night, after winning the 7-1A title last year.

But this one was more special, according to hitter Abigail Fitzpatrick.

“It meant a lot more than all of the other ones and I wanted it more this time,” Fitzpatrick said. “I think the whole team did.”

Skylar Hayes led the Honeybears with 12 kills, 16 digs and four aces, while Fitzpatrick had eight kills, nine digs and four aces in the win.

Hayes also lifted the girls basketball team to state runner-up in December 2014.

“It wasn’t necessarily me,” Hayes said. “It was the whole team.”

Callie Anderson provided 20 set assists and five digs. Olivia Knoedler and Isabella Wade added five and four digs, respectively.

Coach Donna Dulle referred to Anderson as the team’s quarterback.

“It’s fun whenever I set the ball and they pound it, especially when they’re mad,” Anderson said.

That was Dulle’s 12th state title in 34 years at the junior high level.

“They’re used to being on the big stage,” Dulle said. “Everybody had their roles and knew what their roles were. They had to take care of their assignments and they did that.”

Mount Pulaski Grade School athletic director Brent Grisham said it’s uncommon for junior high athletes to accept their roles on a team.

“It’s very hard for kids and athletes at this age to accept their roles on the team,” Grisham said. “They’re usually not mature enough to do that and all of these girls really embraced their roles on the team.”

Mount Pulaski finished the year with a 24-3 record.

“It’s been really fun,” Dulle said. “I knew they were going to show up and give their hardest all of the time.”

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